More recently, the 26-year-old clocked 2:26:26 for second in Hamburg this year and 2:24:33 in Berlin a year ago.

Melkamu is also a legitimate threat. The 31-year-old beat Hailu in Hamburg this year in 2:21:54, not far from her 2:21:01 lifetime best set in 2012 when she won in Frankfurt.

This year’s race also serves as the Dutch championship over the distance. Khalid Choukoud, who ran 2:10:52 in Rotterdam in 2014, is the favourite in the men’s race. Ruth van der Meijden, with a lifetime best of 2:35:15, is the favourite in the women’s.

The weather forecast is nearly ideal with a start time temperature of 9 C expected, with light winds and 60 percent humidity.